Ethereum Pectra Fork Countdown and Date (Prague-Electra)
The Ethereum upgrade named Prague-Electra, also known as Pectra, is scheduled for activation on May 7, 2025.
The Ethereum upgrade named Prague-Electra, also known as "Pectra"
EIP-7600: Hardfork Meta - Pectra
EIPs included in the Prague/Electra Ethereum network upgrade:
- EIP-2537: Precompile for BLS12-381 curve operations
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- EIP-6110: Supply validator deposits on chain
- EIP-7002: Execution layer triggerable exits
- EIP-7251: Increase the MAX_EFFECTIVE_BALANCE
- EIP-7549: Move committee index outside Attestation
- EIP-7623: Increase calldata cost
- EIP-7685: General purpose execution layer requests
- EIP-7691: Blob throughput increase
- EIP-7702: Set EOA account code
- EIP-7840: Add blob schedule to EL config files
Full Specifications
Consensus Layer
EIP-6110 and EIP-7002 require changes to Ethereum’s consensus layer. While the EIPs present an overview of these changes, the full specifications can be found in the _features directory of the ethereum/consensus-specs repository: 6110, 7002.
Execution Layer
EIP-2537, EIP-6110 and EIP-7002 require changes to Ethereum’s execution layer. The EIPs fully specify those changes.
Activation
| Network Name | Activation Epoch | Activation Timestamp |
|---|---|---|
| Holešky | 115968 | Feb. 24, 21:55 UTC |
| Sepolia | 222464 | Mar. 5, 7:29 UTC |
| Mainnet | 364032 | May. 07 10:05 UTC |
Discussion Link: https://ethereum-magicians.org/
The Ethereum Pectra upgrade is scheduled for early May 2025, specifically at Epoch 364032, Start Slot 11649024, Unix timestamp 1746612311, which corresponds to UTC (+00:00) 2025-05-07 10:05:11.; find the full plan here.
Pectra Fork: Successful Ethereum Upgrade
The Pectra fork was completed successfully, with epoch 364032 finalized and strong validator participation (88.5%). This confirms the network remains stable, secure, and actively maintained.
What improved for Ethereum users after Pectra:
- Faster and cheaper signature verification This speeds up processing and reduces costs, especially for staking and proof systems.
- Better scalability and performance The network can now handle more transactions without increasing load, supporting Ethereum’s long-term growth.
- Staking improvements The update makes it easier and more efficient to participate in staking, benefiting both individual stakers and larger providers.
- Reliable node synchronization Sync participation remains high at 88%, ensuring healthy decentralization and robust client performance.
- Lower infrastructure costs Efficiency gains help reduce operating expenses for validators and node operators.
- Foundation for future upgrades Pectra lays the groundwork for upcoming improvements like Verkle Trees, pushing Ethereum further into the future.
After the Pectra upgrade, some temporary changes in validator activity and total staked ETH are expected. Validators may withdraw their stake briefly to reorganize, consolidate funds, or upgrade their nodes. These short-term fluctuations are normal after major network changes and do not affect the stability of Ethereum. The network is designed to handle such shifts smoothly, and participation is expected to recover quickly. You can monitor live validator and staking statistics on Beaconcha.in and Ethernode.